Visa is looking to maximize its partnership with the 2010 FIFA World Cup by launching a social media app that lets fans customize match viewing schedules and other options.
The app, called Visa Match Planner, also lets users organize match-viewing parties, chat with friends, track scores and standings and obtain exclusive offers from merchants, including the FIFA store.
The app can be shared among friends via Facebook at www.visagofans.com. It is available in four languages: English, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese and will be customized for each of the 32 qualified countries.
Visa is the exclusive card of the World Cup. The Match Planner extends the company’s “Go Fans” campaign, which first debuted in Latin America in 2009. The campaign includes print, TV, in-store promotions and out-of-home ads.
As McDonald’s enters its fifth year as a FIFA World Cup sponsor it is planning a host of promotions and events across the globe to attract the attention of all those passionate football fans.
In Australia and New Zealand, for example, eight Happy Meal toys will be themed around the soccer matches. In Latin America, customers who buy an extra Value Meal will receive game pieces that predict the World Cup Final for cash prizes and McDonald’s food items.
In South Africa, where the matches are being played, 1,408 children will have the chance to be McDonald’s Player Escorts. Each country selects the kids through activities that encourage them to be active or inspire their creativity through essays and video contests.
New this year is a contest that offers fans a trip and tickets to the World Cup semi-finals and finals. Also at the site, people can post photos and videos and rally friends to cast votes.
Online at www.FIFA.com the online Fantasy Football game returns where fans can create and manage their own team of World Cup players.
And under the McDonald’s Fan Dancers program, 40 South African women ages 18 to 24 will be invited to perform dance routines at 21 tournament games.
